For decades, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has aimed to define employment discrimination. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. However, confusion has arisen about when and under what circumstances these governing words apply. A recent Supreme Court case has shed some light on this confusion, prompting employers to reconsider the meaning of the term “adverse action.” The Federal Standard Historically, workplace discrimination cases involved a breach of conduct on the basis of the aforementioned protected categories t ..read more

California employment law has undergone many changes recently at the state level. Some of these updates involve an increase in the minimum wage, expanded paid sick leave, changes to non-compete enforcement, and more.   Now, the country’s most populated county (9.9 million inhabitants) is beginning to play some cards of its own. Los Angeles County has passed a new fair chance ordinance that will take effect on September 3, 2024. This ordinance will impact how criminal history information is to be considered by employers with five or more employees in unincorporated parts of the county ..read more

As of Q4 2023, 24 U.S. states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Thirty-eight states have legalized the medical use of the substance. More and more states are following suit as recreational marijuana use acceptance moves into the majority. However, marijuana use and possession is still considered a federal crime, contradicting (in a sense) many state laws and legislative efforts. Can’t the federal government just flip the switch on how marijuana is considered? Well, it’s not exactly that simple. All federally controlled substances are recognized by a formal scheduling system. Sc ..read more

Whether prompted by regulation, curiosity, discontent, or a combination, the average organization will begin seeking new screening vendor options every three years or so. However, this process can be complex and disruptive, especially for larger organizations with unique needs. Making a screening vendor switch is rarely as straightforward as anticipated. From what we have gathered over many years as a full-service screening provider, the following are the most common reasons for a change (in order): Poor customer service Inability to provide all solutions that are needed Turnaround time conce ..read more

As all hiring managers know, for every one thing within your control, there are likely several things outside of your control.  The key to efficient hiring is understanding what can be controlled and refined, and adjusting until improvements are made. Working with large pools of candidates and relying on third-party vendors can be tricky. However, the biggest hiring titans in each respective industry tend to have more than a few things in common when it comes to creating efficiencies. This article will focus on creating efficiencies within the background screening process. Employment scre ..read more

As of 2023, the average credit score in the U.S. was 715– an increase of over 25 points since 2010. The “credit score,” most commonly analyzed by FICO®, is a reasonably reliable, general measure of one’s creditworthiness. It weighs factors such as delinquencies, credit utilization, average account age, and more. We often obsess over this three-digit number, failing to realize that while it represents many financial behaviors over time, certain things can cause swift rises, drops, and recoveries. The FICO score is a good credit tool but not an end-all-be-all. When conducting credit checks for e ..read more

College and professional athletics certainly garner much attention. The United States ranks first among nations worldwide, with a sporting empire that generates over $500 billion annually. In recent years, issues involving misconduct have been brought to light. These issues include various forms of abuse towards the athletes, coaches, and even officials. Significant resources have been dedicated to identifying and combatting many of these troubling problems in college and professional settings– though improvements and efforts will be ongoing. However, what is being done in arenas and on fields ..read more

Time-to-hire is a critical metric for almost any staffing agency and HR department, large or small. Employers need to fill seats, and employees need to fill mouths; there isn’t much time for unwanted bottlenecks. As an employment screening partner, we understand the frustrations that unforeseen delays in the screening process can cause. While just a small piece of the hiring undertaking, screening has become an integral part of the equation, and delays can extend hiring dates and cause strain if not duly accounted for and addressed.  The truth is that delays can often be shortened or alto ..read more

Attracting talent and attracting top talent are two different considerations. “Top talent” is a fairly nuanced term with different meanings depending on the organization. It doesn’t just speak to the skills and disposition of a candidate but also the ability to learn/improve over time and integrate into an organization’s culture. “Top talent” is variable and, as a term, can be replaced with: “people that suit your organization well.” As we will discuss, a resume is becoming a smaller piece of the hiring puzzle for many organizations. The current employment landscape is changing, and hiring is ..read more

As most of us know, the healthcare industry faces what many deem to be (or is soon to become) a hiring crisis. According to the American Hospital Association (AHA), we are trending towards a 3.2 million healthcare workers shortage by 2026. Factors contributing to this shortage include: Rapid growth of the 65 and older age group Increase in chronic conditions (in young and old patients) Increased utilization of basic healthcare Upcoming wave of healthcare retirees Each institution is also battling a turnover issue, particularly among first and second-year nurses and CNAs. At some point in the ..read more